Daily Current Affairs 26 February 2026: Key Updates for UPSC, SSC & Banking Exams

Daily Current Affairs 26 February 2026: Key Updates for UPSC, SSC & Banking Exams

Staying updated with Todays Current Affairs is the cornerstone of success for competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PSCs. A rigorous approach to Daily current affairs ensures that candidates can comfortably navigate the general awareness and contemporary issues sections of these highly competitive papers. Reading news analytically helps build a strong foundation for both preliminary and mains examinations.

To optimize preparation, aspirants should supplement their reading with Daily current affairs MCQs and actively participate in a Daily current affairs Quiz to test their retention. Practicing Todays gk questions ensures that factual data is cemented into long-term memory. Furthermore, organizing these daily updates is vital; candidates are encouraged to download the Daily current affairs pdf for structured offline revision. Ultimately, consistent daily tracking makes the transition to studying comprehensive Monthly current affairs seamless and highly effective, bridging the gap between passive reading and active exam readiness.

Below is the comprehensive coverage of the most important national and international events for 26 February 2026.

Daily Current Affairs 26 February 2026

1. National Affairs

Supreme Court Bans NCERT Class 8 Textbook Over Judicial Chapter

Why in News: The Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance and ordered a blanket ban on the reprinting and digital dissemination of the newly released NCERT Social Science textbook for Class 8.

Key Details:

• The textbook contained a chapter titled ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’, which included selective and controversial references to “corruption” in the judiciary.
• The Chief Justice of India issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy.
• The court ordered immediate seizure of both physical and digital copies from circulation to prevent public access.
• NCERT issued a formal public apology, citing an “error in judgement,” and immediately halted the distribution of the textbook.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (GS Paper 2 – Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies), SSC, State PSC.
• Static GK Link: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established in 1961 as an autonomous organization. Headquarters: New Delhi.

Union Cabinet Approves Renaming of Kerala to ‘Keralam’

Why in News: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the official proposal to change the name of the state from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.

Key Details:

• The decision follows a unanimous resolution passed previously by the Kerala State Legislative Assembly.
• The name alteration requires parliamentary approval and a constitutional amendment under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.
• The President will formally refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislature for its views before it is introduced in Parliament.
• The change aims to align the state’s official name with its phonetic pronunciation in the Malayalam language.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (Polity – Union and its Territory), State PSC, SSC.
• Static GK Link: Article 3 of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to form new States and alter the areas, boundaries, or names of existing States.

Cabinet Approves Rs 9,072 Crore Multitracking Railway Projects

Why in News: The Union Cabinet approved major multitracking railway infrastructure projects to add 307 km of network capacity across four Indian states.

Key Details:

• The strategic rail projects cover districts in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
• The largest component is the Gondia-Jabalpur doubling project (approx. 231 km) estimated at Rs 5,236 crore.
• Additional 3rd and 4th lines will be constructed on the Punarakh-Kiul section in Bihar and the Gamharia-Chandil section in Jharkhand.
• These projects are designed to facilitate the rapid transportation of coal, iron ore, and other industrial minerals to power plants and steel corridors.Exam Relevance: SSC, RRB NTPC, Banking Exams.

2. Internal Security & Defence

MHA Releases National Counter-Terrorism Policy ‘PRAHAAR’

Why in News: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released India’s new national counter-terrorism policy and strategy titled ‘PRAHAAR’.

Key Details:

• The policy outlines a comprehensive, proactive framework to address evolving cyber and physical terror threats.
• It emphasizes aggregating internal capacities to achieve synergy through a whole-of-government approach.
• The strategy focuses on swift and proportionate response mechanisms while strictly adhering to human rights and rule-of-law processes.
• ‘PRAHAAR’ aims to modernize central and state intelligence coordination.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (GS Paper 3 – Internal Security), Defence Exams (CDS, CAPF, NDA).
• Static GK Link: The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

7th Edition of India-Japan Military Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’

Why in News: The 7th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force commenced at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.

Key Details:

• The 2026 edition specifically focuses on tactical drills in semi-urban and mountainous environments.
• The exercise emphasizes the infusion of modern technology, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tools.
• It aims to enhance multi-domain warfare readiness and interoperability between the two armed forces.Exam Relevance: SSC, Defence Exams, State PSC.Static GK Link: Capital of Japan: Tokyo. Currency: Japanese Yen. Prime Minister: Shigeru Ishiba (as of current data).

3. International Affairs

PM Modi Concludes Historic Israel Visit, Elevates Strategic Partnership

Why in News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded an official visit to Israel, elevating bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership.”

Key Details:

• During his address to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), PM Modi endorsed the UN-backed Gaza Peace Initiative, advocating for a durable peace in the region.
• Both nations signed 27 agreements spanning defense manufacturing, advanced technology, agriculture, and water management.
• India and Israel successfully concluded the first round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, with the next critical phase scheduled for May 2026.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (GS Paper 2 – International Relations), Banking Awareness.
• Static GK Link: Capital of Israel: Jerusalem. Currency: Israeli New Shekel. Parliament: Knesset.

India and GCC Sign Joint Statement for Free Trade Agreement

Why in News: The Government of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a Joint Statement to initiate a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

Key Details:

• The agreement aims to significantly deepen economic integration and ease trade barriers between India and the Gulf nations.
• The GCC comprises six Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
• This FTA is expected to boost India’s energy security and expand its export footprint in the Middle East.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC, RBI Grade B, Banking Exams.
• Static GK Link: The GCC was established in 1981. Headquarters: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

4. Economy & Finance

India and France Amend Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC)

Why in News: The Government of India and France signed a protocol amending their existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), initially signed in 1992.

Key Details:

• The amendment removes the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) clause, which resolves past historical disputes and brings greater tax certainty.
• Dividend tax rates have been restructured into a two-tier system to encourage investment.
• A 5 percent tax will apply if the shareholder holds at least 10 percent of the company’s capital; a 15 percent tax applies in all other scenarios.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (Economy), RBI Grade B, SSC CGL.

US Imposes 125 Percent Tariff on Indian Solar Products

Why in News: The United States government imposed a steep tariff of approximately 125 percent on solar imports originating from India.

Key Details:

• The decision is a result of ongoing investigations into trade practices and foreign subsidies within the global solar manufacturing supply chain.
• This tariff heavily impacts India’s growing renewable energy export market and complicates the bilateral trade dynamics.
• Experts suggest this will compel the Indian solar manufacturing sector to diversify export markets and rely heavier on domestic demand incentives.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (Economy, IR), Banking Awareness.

5. Science, Technology & Health

Nationwide Free HPV Vaccination Drive Announced

Why in News: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced a free nationwide vaccination drive against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for 14-year-old girls.

Key Details:

• India currently accounts for nearly 20 percent of the global cervical cancer burden.
• The initial phase of the drive will utilize the globally recognized ‘Gardasil’ vaccine in a single-dose regimen, which has shown exceptionally high efficacy.
• India’s indigenous HPV vaccine, ‘Cervavac’ (developed by the Serum Institute of India), is currently awaiting final World Health Organization (WHO) approval before being integrated into the national program.
• Exam Relevance: UPSC (GS Paper 2 – Health), SSC, Railway Exams.
• Static GK Link: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. HPV is the primary causative agent.

6. Sports

Hanne Vandewinkel Wins ITF W100 Bengaluru 2026 Title

Why in News: Belgian tennis player Hanne Vandewinkel clinched the ITF W100 Bengaluru 2026 singles title.

Key Details:

• The tournament is a premier event on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s World Tennis Tour.
• The victory grants her significant global ranking points and highlights Bengaluru as a major hub for international sporting events in India.
• Exam Relevance: SSC, Banking, RRB NTPC.

Daily Current Affairs: Important One-Liners

• NCERT Textbook Ban: The Supreme Court ordered a blanket ban on the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook due to controversial references to judicial corruption.
• State Renaming: The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to ‘Keralam’.
• Anti-Terror Policy: The MHA introduced India’s first holistic national counter-terrorism strategy titled ‘PRAHAAR’.
• Diplomatic Visit: PM Narendra Modi addressed the Israeli Knesset and endorsed the Gaza Peace Initiative during his historic visit.
• India-Israel FTA: India and Israel successfully concluded their first round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
• Tax Treaty Amendment: India and France amended their DTAC, removing the MFN clause and revising dividend tax rates to a 5 percent and 15 percent dual structure.
• Solar Tariffs: The US government imposed a massive 125 percent import tariff on Indian solar products.
• Military Exercise: The 7th edition of the India-Japan joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ commenced in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.
• Railway Infrastructure: The Cabinet approved Rs 9,072 crore multitracking railway projects covering Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
• Health Initiative: India announced a nationwide free HPV vaccination drive targeting 14-year-old girls to combat cervical cancer.
• State Budget: Jharkhand presented its FY27 state budget of Rs 1.36 lakh crore, officially named the ‘Abua Dishom’ budget.
• Tennis Title: Hanne Vandewinkel won the ITF W100 Bengaluru 2026 singles tennis tournament.

Daily Current Affairs MCQs

1. The Supreme Court recently ordered a blanket ban on a Class 8 textbook published by which organization over a chapter on the judiciary?

A) CBSE

B) ICSE

C) NCERT

D) UGC

Answer: C) NCERT

Explanation: The Supreme Court banned the newest NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook due to a chapter making selective references to “corruption” in the judiciary.

2. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the alteration of names of existing States?

A) Article 1

B) Article 2

C) Article 3

D) Article 4

Answer: C) Article 3

Explanation: Article 3 empowers the Parliament to form new states and alter the areas, boundaries, or names of existing states, relevant to the recent Cabinet approval for renaming Kerala to ‘Keralam’.

3. What is the name of India’s newly released national counter-terrorism policy and strategy?

A) SURAKSHA

B) PRAHAAR

C) VIJAY

D) RAKSHAK

Answer: B) PRAHAAR

Explanation: The Ministry of Home Affairs released ‘PRAHAAR’, a comprehensive framework to address evolving terror threats and strengthen national security.

4. The 7th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is conducted between India and which country?

A) USA

B) France

C) Japan

D) Australia

Answer: C) Japan

Explanation: Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is an annual joint military training event between India and Japan, currently being held in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.

5. The Union Ministry of Health announced a nationwide vaccination drive targeting 14-year-old girls to prevent which disease?

A) Tuberculosis

B) Breast Cancer

C) Cervical Cancer

D) Rubella

Answer: C) Cervical Cancer

Explanation: The government announced a free HPV vaccination drive using the Gardasil vaccine to combat the high burden of cervical cancer in India.

6. Approximately what percentage of tariff has the United States recently imposed on Indian solar products?

A) 50%

B) 75%

C) 100%

D) 125%

Answer: D) 125%

Explanation: The US imposed a steep 125% tariff on solar imports from India amid trade disputes and investigations into supply chain practices.

7. India and France recently amended their Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC). Which controversial clause was entirely removed during this amendment?

A) Sunset Clause

B) Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Clause

C) Grandfathering Clause

D) Arbitration Clause

Answer: B) Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Clause

Explanation: The MFN clause was removed from the India-France DTAC to resolve historical disputes and align the treaty with clear global taxation standards.

8. The newly approved Rs 5,236 crore Gondia-Jabalpur doubling railway project primarily connects which two states?

A) Gujarat and Rajasthan

B) Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

C) Bihar and Jharkhand

D) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Answer: B) Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: The Gondia-Jabalpur doubling project spans approximately 231 km and acts as a crucial rail link connecting Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

9. Hanne Vandewinkel recently won the ITF W100 Bengaluru 2026 title. Which sport is she associated with?

A) Badminton

B) Table Tennis

C) Tennis

D) Squash

Answer: C) Tennis

Explanation: Belgian athlete Hanne Vandewinkel secured the ITF W100 Bengaluru 2026 singles title, a major tournament on the women’s global tennis circuit.

10. Which Indian state recently presented its FY27 budget named ‘Abua Dishom’?

A) Chhattisgarh

B) Odisha

C) Jharkhand

D) Bihar

Answer: C) Jharkhand

Explanation: Jharkhand presented its FY27 budget totaling Rs 1.36 lakh crore, uniquely named the ‘Abua Dishom’ (our own) budget.

Conclusion

Engaging consistently with Todays Current Affairs is non-negotiable for serious candidates aspiring to clear government examinations. Today’s updates highlighted pivotal shifts in national policy, global diplomacy, and the economy. We highly recommend that you dedicate time to review these points and practice the accompanying Daily current affairs MCQs to solidify your learning. Do not forget to download the Daily current affairs pdf available on our platform to build your offline repository. Aggregating these daily notes will serve as an excellent foundation when you transition to revising the Monthly current affairs compilations closer to your exam dates.

FAQs

Where can I download Daily current affairs pdf?

You can download the compiled PDF directly from the designated link at the bottom of our daily updates page. It is formatted specifically for offline reading and rapid revision.

How to prepare Daily current affairs for UPSC/SSC?

Focus on understanding the ‘Why in News’ and ‘Exam Relevance’ of each topic. Connect the daily news to your syllabus and trace back the associated Static GK to ensure a holistic understanding.

Are Daily current affairs MCQs enough for exam preparation?

While MCQs are excellent for testing factual recall and accuracy, they must be supplemented with detailed reading of the news context and comprehensive monthly compilations for deep conceptual clarity.

How are Monthly current affairs different from daily updates?

Daily updates provide immediate, bite-sized information on daily occurrences. Monthly compilations categorize, filter, and provide an in-depth analytical summary of the most crucial events of the entire month.

How to practice with Daily current affairs Quiz?

Take the quiz after completing your daily reading. Treat it as a mini mock test, review the detailed explanations for any incorrect answers, and note down those facts for your weekend revision.

Which newspaper is best for Todays Current Affairs?

The Hindu and The Indian Express are highly recommended for UPSC and State PSC exams due to their analytical editorials, while standard dailies are sufficient for SSC and Banking factual data.

What is the significance of Todays gk questions for Banking exams?

Banking exams heavily test recent financial, economic, and banking awareness. Practicing daily GK questions ensures you stay abreast of RBI policies, tax amendments, and international financial agreements.

How much time should I dedicate to Daily current affairs?

Ideally, allocate 45 to 60 minutes daily. This should include 30 minutes of reading, 15 minutes of note-making, and 15 minutes of solving daily quizzes.

Does revising Monthly current affairs eliminate the need for daily reading?

No. Daily reading prevents the accumulation of an overwhelming backlog and improves gradual retention, making the monthly revision process much faster and more efficient.

Are Static GK and Daily current affairs connected?

Yes, highly connected. Exam setters frequently frame Static GK questions based on institutions, geography, or constitutional articles that have recently appeared in the daily news cycle.